The Canberra Flies: stories from Canberra’s mid-century years

What was everyday life really like in Canberra during the mid-century?

In the first episode of Mid-Century with a Twist, social history curators Vanessa Roth and Hannah Paddon explore Canberra’s transformation from bush capital to modern city through one surprisingly revealing subject: flies.
Blending oral histories, archival research and local stories, The Canberra Flies offers a vivid portrait of Canberra from the post-war years through to the 1970s, when sheep paddocks, dust and rapid development still shaped daily life. Along the way, the episode visits Lanyon Homestead and Calthorpes’ House to uncover how residents lived with the challenges of a growing capital, and how science, ingenuity and changing lifestyles helped transform the city.
The episode also follows the story of pioneering CSIRO entomologist Doug Waterhouse, whose work on blowflies, mosquito repellent and dung beetles helped change life in Canberra and beyond. It also explores the city’s emerging food and café culture, including the colourful story of Gus’ Café and Canberra’s early battles over outdoor dining, music and modern urban life.
Full of humour, local character and unexpected detail, this episode offers a fresh and entertaining way into Canberra’s social history.

Mid-Century with A Twist is a Canberra Museum + Gallery production, written and hosted by Vanessa Roth and Hannah Paddon and recorded on the lands of the Ngunnawal people.

Our voice actors in this episode are Gerard Hogan, Claire Manning, Rebecca Richards and Ethan Wiggin. We would like to thank our podcasting group at ArtSound, as well as Jill Waterhouse, Naomi McRae, Glenda Fowler and Val Starr. Our theme music is Canberra Blues by the Bitter Lemons, used with the permission of the Lyneham family. The oral history of Doug Waterhouse is from the Australian Academy of Science Collection.